Download Gatesnfences Heuristic

Website Design Heuristic (a checklist for effective design)
Website to Evaluate:
http://www.gatesnfences.com/
Purpose of the Site (one sentence):
Gatesnfences.com is primarily a retail site for gate and fence products manufactured and
sold by L.A. Ornamental Corp.
Intended Users (list the different types):
personal and commercial property owners
Evaluation Scale:
2=strongly agree; 1=agree; –1=disagree; –2=strongly disagree; 0= doesn't apply
(–2 to 2 )
Purposeful
(comment using complete sentences)
1 Site purpose is clear
2 Keywords and content match the site purpose
2 Site content is current enough to be useful for purpose and intended audience
2 Content is relevant to the specific page
2 Content is relevant to purpose and intended audience
(–2 to 2 )
Appealing Visual Logic
The site’s
purpose is stated
in very small, hard
to read print at the
top of the home
page.
(comment using complete sentences)
Visual elements
-2 Visual design establish a consistent mood and feel
on this site do not
-2 Visual hierarchy shows relative importance of information
work together.
-2 Design incorporates accessibility standards - Text is easily readable
There are many
-1 Site displays well in variety of browsers / readers / devices
pointless visual
-2 Simplicity of design, appropriate level of details, open space, chunking of information effects. Some
visual elements
overlap. The large
volume of text is
not well space.
Pages are overly
cluttered.
Multiple
backgrounds are
use on the pages
to the site’s
detriment.
-2 Site uses appealing elements that complement each other consistent with site purpose
(–2 to 2 )
Functionally Appropriate
(comment using complete sentences)
1 Site should provide a clear “scent” of information to get to destination page
2 Site provides for user search and/or site index
The site provides
Website Design Heuristic (a checklist for effective design)
-1 Site provides appropriate information based on browser, device type and user location
1 Site downloads quickly as appropriate to the device
(–2 to 2 )
Navigation Clarity
a clear navigation
menu and a user
search tool.
MouseOver affects
on the menu was
inconsistent. The
site uses annoying
transition effects
which display in
some browsers
and not others.
(comment using complete sentences)
2 Site is identified on every page
-1 Navigation elements are consistent and predictable throughout site
0 Accessibility for non-image browsers - Text-based navigation provided
1 All navigation is clearly labeled and linked appropriately and visible at standard
resolution (appropriate to the audience / device)
1 navigation labels use phrases familiar to the user and is categorized appropriately
-1 Headers and (optional) breadcrumbs show the user’s current location appropriate to
the site
I found that some
links opened in a
new window but
other links to the
same page opened
in the current
window. As far as
I can tell, it is not
too hard to find
what you are
looking for.
General Site Comments (use complete sentences)
Overall, this site is a visual mess. The text is packed together too tightly over ugly
backgrounds. The colors clash. The graphical elements are overdone.